By The Takeaway: One of the very best gets a little bit better.
- 10mm bump in rear travel and small changes to the geometry
- New XXL size and size-specific seat tube angles and chain stays for all sizes
- Increased and refined stiffness for all sizes
- A long list of new features including improved hose and housing routing, threaded BB, and SRAM UDH
Weight: 31.7 lb. (T3 Lunch Ride, size medium)
Price: $10,200
Today, Yeti rolls out the final chapter of a big week of bike launches. What began last Thursday with the SB160 and continued on Tuesday with the SB120, ends with today’s launch of the new SB140.
“Hang on,” you’re saying to yourself, “Yeti already makes an SB140.” Indeed, but that bike, which launched in 2019, has 27.5 wheels; this SB140 has 29-inch wheels. For now, both SB140s live in Yeti’s line which will likely cause a bit of confusion (if you’re buying one, make sure it has the wheel size you want). The 27.5-wheeled SB140 should get a refresh and a new name in the near future.
This new SB140 takes the place of the venerable SB130 at the center of Yeti’s line of bikes and, like the SB130, should be Yeti’s best-selling model.
Yeti SB140 Frame Features and Updates
The new SB140 gets the same frame features and updates as the SB160 and SB120. I can almost literally copy and paste from the SB120 and SB160 reviews I recently posted, and you can see the strong family resemblance in the frame profile of the three models. The features, updates, and shaping you see in these three bikes will likely find their way to new and refreshed Yeti models.
The new and improved details of the SB140 (and SB120 and SB160) include: Clamping hose and housing ports with full-length routing tubes, clamping hose/housing keepers at the bottom bracket, second-generation Switch Infinity link for Turq series frames, aluminum BSA threaded bottom bracket with ISCG05 tabs co-molded into the carbon frame, double density downtube protector, revised pivot bearing arrangement, standard sized Enduro Max pivot bearings, SRAM UDH derailleur hanger, frame-size specific chainstay lengths and seat tube angles, and a higher-clearance downtube.
The SB140 is a stiffer frame than the SB130, although how much stiffer depends on the size of the frame, “A focused area of design with these frames was to add frame stiffness, but while optimizing and balancing per size for the best tracking and ride feel we worked to balance both stiffness and desired ride feel with every individual size,” said Peter Zawsitowski Yeti’s director of engineering.
The long list of updates and added features do add a bit of weight to the Turq frame. The SB140 Turq frame weighs 3,400 grams, 113 grams more than the SB130 Turq. However, Carbon series frames do not see any weight increase: Frame weight should be about 3,512 grams.
All Yeti frames (as well as the Switch Infinity link) carry a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects and a one-year on paint and finish. For damage and failures that fall outside of the warranty period, Yeti offers a discounted replacement policy.
Yeti offers the SB140/SB140 LR in five sizes (small through double extra-large) and four colors (Turquoise, Raw Carbon, Sangria, and Sage).
Two Versions: SB140 and SB140 Lunch Ride
Like the SB130, the SB140 comes in two flavors: Standard and Lunch Ride (LR). As before, both use the same frame with small suspension differences.
But in the 140’s case, the suspension difference is primarily a 10mm bump in fork travel. Previously the SB130 had 130mm rear travel while the SB130 LR ran 137mm courtesy of a longer-stoke shock. But now, the two SB140s run the same 210x55mm shocks and both have 140mm of rear travel.
However, the SB140 LR uses a Fox Float X piggyback shock while the SB140 uses a Float DPS inline. Based on my experience riding both shocks, that change should give each variant’s rear suspension a distinct feel despite having identical kinematics.
While both versions use a Fox 36 fork, the LR runs a 160mm fork with a GRIP2 damper instead of a 150mm 36 with a FIT4 damper. Other changes to the build to create the LR include a sturdier rear tire (a Maxxis Minon DHR 2.4-inch with EXO+ casing instead of a 2.3-inch Aggressor with EXO casing), and more powerful brakes (SRAM Codes instead of G2s).
The changes bump up the LR’s weight by 1.6 pounds (726 grams); the shock change alone accounts for 212 grams of that difference. It also changes the geometry slightly, which I dive into below.
Yeti SB140 Suspension Updates
Like the SB150 to SB160 evolution, with the SB140 transition, Yeti doesn’t stray too much from the suspension that made the SB130/130LR successful. “We wanted to maintain the kinematic characteristics of our award and race-winning line these bikes replace,” Zawistowski told me, “Dynamic responses (anti-squat and anti-rise) remain generally the same.”
As the name change implies, there is a 10mm bump in travel to 140mm. There’s also a small bump in its progression, which was 12 percent but now stands at 14 percent. On this point, Zawistowski stated, “The progression values chosen are specific and intentional to each bike. There is a common misconception that more progression is better, but Yeti Cycles applies the appropriate level of progression to best fit the use case.”
If you swing that way, Yeti says the SB140 is compatible with a coil-spring shock.
Yeti SB140 Geometry Updates
Other than the addition of a fifth size, double extra-large, the SB140’s geometry is barely different than the SB130’s. My trusty Excel table lays out the changes for you to see: There is a half-degree steeper seat tube angle, a half-centimeter bump in reach, and a longer front center and wheelbase. The LR’s 10mm longer fork slackens its head and seat angles to 65/77 degrees instead of the standard version’s 65.4/77.5.
Not shown in my table, which only compares size medium frames (the size I ride) is perhaps the most significant geometry update: Size-specific seat tube angles and chainstay lengths.
Reflecting the popularity of ever-longer-travel dropper posts, the SB140’s seat tubes are shorter than the SB130’s.
Yeti SB140 Prices and Build Kits
Yeti charges premium prices for their bikes. The SB140 starts at $6,400 and tops out at $11,500. The SB140 LR starts at $6,600 and tops out at $11,700. The SB140 Turq frame, with Fox Float X shock (same as the LR), sells for $4,500. C-series builds offer an optional upgrade to Fox Factory suspension for $800, while the Turq builds have an optional upgrade to the DT-Swiss EXC1511 wheelset for $1,000.
There are six LR builds and five for the standard SB140. The LR gets three with the Carbon series frame (C1, C2, C3), and three with the premium Turq frame (T1, T3, T4). The standard SB140 gets two Carbon series (C1, C2) and three Turq (T2, T3, T4). All builds use Fox suspension, Maxxis tires, and Burgtec stem. And all but one (C1) use SRAM drivetrain and brakes. The C1 runs a Shimano SLX drivetrain and brakes. Pictures of all the builds are included here; full build breakdowns are on the SB140’s product page.
Yeti SB140 Ride Impressions
As I said in the review of the SB120, I’ve long loved the way Yeti’s bikes handle and ride. And of all the Yetis I’ve ridden, the SB130 is my favorite and, four-plus years after its debut, still makes my (ever-evolving) list of top five all-time favorite mountain bikes.
And despite all that’s changed and debuted in mountain bikes in those years, I think the SB130 holds up. Certainly, the geometry doesn’t look as “progressive” as it did in 2018, but then nothing I’ve ridden since has convinced me that a radical change to the 130’s geometry would result in a fundamentally better at achieving the all around, any trail, everyday balance that makes the SB130 so damn great.
So, I was comforted by how familiar the SB140 felt. It is the already honed SB130 further refined. Although I’d hesitate to call it a different bike, the SB140 is a better bike than the SB130 in that it feels slightly calmer on the descents, the handling is more precise, and it also boasts an improved seated-climbing position.
Add the other rider-friendly updates—threaded BB, better hose and housing routing, improved (in theory) durability of suspension pivots and linkages, compatibility with longer-travel droppers, stiffer and quieter frame, and better frame protection—and I think you’re looking at one of the best riding, best handling, and most balanced mid-travel trail bikes you can buy
To check my impressions and get a different perspective, I handed my SB140 test bike off for a few weeks to a local rider. Tom is a skilled rider and fantastic mechanic (World Cup level, literally) but he’s not a Yeti rider and has no experience on the brand’s recent bikes. Tom has been around bikes long enough and has ridden enough bikes that he doesn’t swoon about riding a high-end bike, or a boutique brand. “I used to have sentimental attachment to some of my bikes. I don’t anymore which is kinda sad,” he told me, which is what I want from someone I’m relying on to give me honest feedback about a bicycle.
He started by saying, “I’ve never been a big fan of rattling off geo numbers or talking spec. I also am imposing a rule that prohibits me from using words like playful, lively, twitchy, quiver, etcetera,” which I find preferable to someone calling a bike “Nimble!” and trying to reverse engineer what they felt on the trail from a published length or angle.
Rather than quote or summarize Tom, I’m pasting the bulk of the email he sent me because I think it’s illuminating to read the words of a bike-savvy person who is not a professional product reviewer.
It’s easy to jump on a bike that’s new or different and scrutinize every detail. I like to take the opposite approach and do the minimum. Make the necessary adjustments to the fork and rear shock for the first ride, seat height adjustment, set the tire pressures and go ride.
We generally classify our rides here in Durango into one of three categories: in town, mid country, and high country. Who I ride with and where we plan to go influences which bike I grab. Without realizing it, I took the Yeti out for all these outings. What does that mean? It means the bike works well in town where there’s lots of pedaling and shorter descents. Mid country rides on rougher trails between 8000 and 10,000 feet. And high country days on the weekends; waking up early, all day adventures, with big descents. This bike can work great for all these types of rides and that to me is very appealing.
After a couple weeks I stacked up a bunch of rides and I realized I was every bit as comfortable on the Yeti as I was my personal bike in terms of confidence. No crashes or mechanicals. I used to travel extensively for work, and often times there were opportunities to go for a ride, albeit on a borrowed bike. Not my favorite thing to do as these rides typically included pro athletes and industry folks that are good riders. Go borrow a bike that you’re not used to and go try to keep up with really talented people. I was never good or comfortable on such rides. So, getting used to the Yeti so quickly speaks volumes in my mind.
Since I’m a mechanic, and I didn’t build this bike, I listen for any noise coming from the bike. The bike was quiet, and I was happy. Bikes at this price should be quiet but that’s not always the case. I’m not going to give high praise for something that is expected however it is surprising how many new bikes can’t seem to deliver on this.
The number one thing I continued to think about while riding this bike is would I walk into a bike shop, put down my hard earned cash and pay full retail for this bike? The answer is yeah— hell yeah. I see the prospective buyer here coming home with their dream bike. The person who is filled with the absolute fear of the first scratch, keeping it inside the house so they can stare at it, telling themselves they’ll never leave it on the back of the truck while they run into the store.
I gave Tom the SB120 to ride after his time on the SB140. He also liked the SB120, but he pointed out that this SB140 LR weighs about two pounds more than the SB120 (31.7 lb vs 29.4 lb.) That’s not an insignificant difference, but when you consider the SB140 LR has 20mm more rear travel and 30mm more front travel, more powerful brakes, a piggyback shock, grippier tires, and is markedly better at descending while not giving much on the climbs, you can see why he feels the SB140 LR is the obvious winner between the two.
“I wanted to love the shorter travel option but kept feeling like I was under-biked without any real climbing benefit due to the bike’s weight. So, what’s the point?” he said
I love the SB120 and I think it will make a lot of riders happy. But the SB140 is the unquestioned star of Yeti’s line. An impressive feat considering the overall quality of all the brand’s bikes. The SB140 is not the best bike for riding in Squamish, and it’s not the best for Florida either. But it is impressively capable across a very diverse swath of terrain and conditions. It is a mountain bike: That one bike for the climbs and descents—whatever form they take— and everything in between. A bike you can use to challenge and scare yourself on, but a bike that’s still quick and fun to ride when you’re just trying to enjoy an after-work cruise. It is a true mountain bike.
A gear editor for his entire career, Matt’s journey to becoming a leading cycling tech journalist started in 1995, and he’s been at it ever since; likely riding more cycling equipment than anyone on the planet along the way. Previous to his time with Bicycling, Matt worked in bike shops as a service manager, mechanic, and sales person. Based in Durango, Colorado, he enjoys riding and testing any and all kinds of bikes, so you’re just as likely to see him on a road bike dressed in Lycra at a Tuesday night worlds ride as you are to find him dressed in a full face helmet and pads riding a bike park on an enduro bike. He doesn’t race often, but he’s game for anything; having entered road races, criteriums, trials competitions, dual slalom, downhill races, enduros, stage races, short track, time trials, and gran fondos. Next up on his to-do list: a multi day bikepacking trip, and an e-bike race.
